[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by RyanN

The current supply from the 5V output on the PD board is rated for 3A, which is plenty enough to run the Dlink. The 5V output is not a boost supply, so low battery voltage, or huge current spikes can cut power to the Dlink.

I don't see any issue in doing this. Maybe some other mentors can post and tell me their thoughts.

I believe you hit the nail on the head here. The 5V supply is only guaranteed to regulate higher voltages safely down to 5V, and not sustain it should the battery voltage sag too much. That said, it's pretty robust and will work pretty close to the 5V mark, but none the less, a sufficiently dead battery could pose problems.

FIRST has a lot going on and simply wants to eliminate debugging radios resetting from low power from all the other stuff that breaks at the most inopportune moments for the field crew The boost supply on the 12V rail helps with that, but it was previously designed for the Linksys bridge, so we need the new converter to bridge the gap between the reliable supply, and the lower voltage radio.

Matt